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Nigeria Loses Bid to Co-host AFCON 2027

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afcon 2027

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria and its neighbour, Benin Republic, will not jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has favoured the trio of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for the continental football tournament.

The apex football governing body in Africa on Wednesday also announced Morocco as the host of the biennial competition in 2025.

Morocco last hosted the AFCON in 1988 and was chosen in 2015 but asked for the tournament to be postponed because of the Ebola virus, although CAF later decided to strip the North African nation of the hosting rights.

While Morocco were hot favourites to host the 2025 edition of the premier African sport event, the shock last-minute withdrawal of Algeria from the 2027 race on Tuesday threw it wide open.

“This withdrawal can be explained by a new approach from the FAF (Algerian Football Federation) related to its strategy for developing football in Algeria,” it said.

The Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania bid then got the nod from the CAF executive committee, taking the tournament back to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia staged the 1976 finals.

“I am very proud of Morocco,” said CAF president, Mr Patrice Motsepe, after naming the successful hosts in Cairo.

“Morocco’s competing countries (for the 2025 tournament) — Algeria, Zambia and Nigeria-Benin — announced their withdrawal, even if these countries still made their presentation,” he said.

“The main reason is to support Morocco in its candidacy for the 2030 World Cup,” jointly with Spain and Portugal, explained Motsepe.

Morocco boasts many world-class stadiums and has successfully hosted numerous African and world football tournaments.

But Kenya and Tanzania have only one international-standard venue each and Uganda none, which forced their national team to play 2023 Cup of Nations qualifiers at neutral venues.

“One of the key objectives is that the decision that was taken today (promotes) the development of infrastructure and stadiums (and) be a source of enthusiasm among young people,” said Motsepe.

Ivory Coast will host the 2023 Cup of Nations, which has been put back to January and February 2024 due to the rainy season in West Africa.

“The timing is not ideal,” Mr Motsepe has said, referring to the tournament falling in the middle of the European club season.

“But we could not risk the tournament being disrupted by inclement weather,” added the South African billionaire, who was appointed CAF president in 2021.

The Cup of Nations has grown from a three-team tournament in Sudan in 1957 to a 24-team event since 2019 and attracts a worldwide TV audience.

Egypt has been the most successful country with seven titles, including three in a row from 2006. Cameroon triumphed five times and Ghana are four-time champions.

Nigeria has been victorious on three occasions 1980, 1994, and the last coming in 2013 when the late Stephen Keshi led the team to victory with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The line-up for the next edition in five Ivorian cities includes the top 16 African countries in the latest FIFA rankings, led by 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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WrestleMania 42 Hits GOtv as Cena Hosts WWE’s Biggest Event this Weekend

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WrestleMania 42 GOtv

WWE’s biggest annual event returns this weekend as WrestleMania 42 takes over Las Vegas in a blockbuster two-night spectacle, with GOtv subscribers set for every twist, title clash, and surprise moment live on Channel 68.

Broadcast live from Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, this year’s edition comes with added intrigue as WWE legend John Cena serves as official host. Following his dramatic heel turn during his farewell run, fans will be watching closely to see whether Cena remains a neutral master of ceremonies or becomes a major factor in the chaos.

Cody Rhodes Faces Randy Orton in Night One Main Event

Night One is headlined by Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defending against former ally Randy Orton.

Adding to the drama is a major stipulation: if Orton loses, broadcaster Pat McAfee must leave WWE. With pride, titles, and careers in play, the stakes could hardly be higher.

CM Punk vs Reigns Headlines Night Two

The biggest match of the weekend sees World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk defend his title against Roman Reigns in a clash loaded with pride, legacy, and unfinished business.

After Punk’s recent verbal shots at the Anoa’i family dynasty, Reigns enters WrestleMania determined to reclaim his place at the top. It is a meeting of two eras, with championship gold and reputation on the line.

Women’s Division Brings Heavy Firepower

One of the most anticipated contests of the weekend sees Jade Cargill defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley, a battle between two of the most dominant forces in modern wrestling.

Night One also features Liv Morgan vs Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship, while AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch adds star power to an already stacked card.

Other Must-Watch Matches

Fans can also look forward to:

  • Brock Lesnar vs Oba Femi in a special attraction clash

  • Seth Rollins vs Gunther in what many expect to be a technical classic

  • Bron Breakker vs Trick Williams for the United States Championship

  • A six-man ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship

  • The Bloodline vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn

Watch Live on GOtv

WrestleMania 42 airs live on GOtv Channel 68 from 11:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, with repeat broadcasts at 1:00 pm the following day.

From championship drama to shocking returns and Vegas-sized spectacle, WrestleMania weekend promises two nights of unforgettable entertainment on GOtv.

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Man City-Arsenal Title Showdown Tops Weekend Football Live on SuperSport

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Man City-Arsenal Title Showdown

Domestic football across England, Italy and France enters a defining weekend as title races tighten, European qualification battles intensify and relegation pressure grows. Fans can catch all the action live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv.

Premier League: Title Showdown Takes Centre Focus

The Premier League delivers one of its biggest weekends of the season, headlined by a potentially decisive clash between Man City and Arsenal. Elsewhere, the race for Champions League places and the battle for survival continue to intensify.

Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m. as Brentford host Fulham in a West London derby. Brentford will look to end a run of draws, while Fulham aim to respond after defeat to Liverpool. With the table tightly packed, three points could significantly improve either side’s prospects.

At 3:00 p.m., Newcastle United welcome Bournemouth. Bournemouth arrive with confidence after a notable victory over Arsenal, while Newcastle seek a response after defeat to Crystal Palace.

Tottenham host Brighton at 5:30 p.m. in a high-pressure contest. Spurs have slipped into the relegation zone and urgently need points, while Brighton remain firmly in contention for European qualification.

The evening fixture at 8:00 p.m. sees Chelsea take on Man United. Both sides are looking to recover from disappointing defeats, with United chasing a top-four finish and Chelsea seeking to keep pace in the Champions League race.

Sunday opens with the Merseyside derby at 2:00 p.m. as Everton face Liverpool. Liverpool’s focus is now firmly on securing a top-four place, while Everton continue to battle for breathing space above the bottom three.

The headline fixture follows at 4:30 p.m. as Man City host Arsenal. Arsenal lead the table, but City’s form and games in hand make this one of the defining matches of the title race. Victory for either side could reshape the closing weeks of the season.

All Premier League matches air live on SS Premier League (DStv Ch. 203, GOtv Ch. 65).

Serie A: Inter Close In as Top-Four Race Heats Up

Inter Milan remain firmly in control of Serie A, while the battle for Champions League places remains highly competitive. Friday night begins with Inter Milan hosting Cagliari at 7:45 p.m. Inter continue to set the pace at the top and will expect to strengthen their advantage against a side battling near the bottom.

On Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Napoli face Lazio. Napoli remain second and will look to maintain their cushion over the chasing pack, while Lazio need points to revive their European hopes. Later at 7:45 p.m., Roma host Atalanta in a key clash between two sides chasing continental qualification. With little separating the teams, the stakes are significant.

Sunday’s action starts at 2:00 p.m. as Verona face AC Milan. Milan need an immediate response after a damaging defeat, while Verona continue their fight for survival. Juventus meet Bologna at 7:45 p.m. looking to strengthen their hold on a top-four place. Bologna, however, remain capable opponents and will aim to disrupt Juve’s momentum.

Serie A fixtures air live on SS Africa 2 (DStv Ch. 208, GOtv Ch. 64).

Ligue 1: PSG Lead as European Race Tightens

Paris Saint-Germain remain comfortably placed at the top of Ligue 1, but the battle for European positions below them remains fiercely contested. Friday opens at 7:45 p.m. with RC Lens against Toulouse. Lens need a quick response after a setback last time out, while Toulouse look to recover from a heavy defeat.

On Saturday at 4:00 p.m., Lorient host Marseille. Marseille currently occupy a key European place and know victory is essential in a tightly packed race. Later at 8:05 p.m., Lille face Nice. Lille arrive in strong form and could climb further with another positive result, while Nice seek consistency after recent struggles.

Sunday begins at 2:00 p.m. as Monaco host Auxerre. Monaco remain in the hunt for Europe but cannot afford further slip-ups. The weekend concludes at 7:45 p.m. with Paris Saint-Germain against Lyon. PSG remain favourites, but Lyon’s recent improvement makes this one of the standout fixtures of the round.

Ligue 1 matches air live on SS Football (DStv Ch. 205, GOtv Ch. 61), with selected fixtures on SS Africa 1 (DStv Ch. 207, GOtv Ch. 63).

Weekend Highlights

Premier League

  • Brentford vs Fulham – Saturday, 12:30 PM

  • Newcastle United vs Bournemouth – Saturday, 3:00 PM

  • Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton – Saturday, 5:30 PM

  • Chelsea vs Man United – Saturday, 8:00 PM

  • Everton vs Liverpool – Sunday, 2:00 PM

  • Man City vs Arsenal – Sunday, 4:30 PM

Serie A

  • Inter Milan vs Cagliari – Friday, 7:45 PM

  • Napoli vs Lazio – Saturday, 5:00 PM

  • Roma vs Atalanta – Saturday, 7:45 PM

  • Verona vs AC Milan – Sunday, 2:00 PM

  • Juventus vs Bologna – Sunday, 7:45 PM

Ligue 1

  • RC Lens vs Toulouse – Friday, 7:45 PM

  • Lorient vs Marseille – Saturday, 4:00 PM

  • Lille vs Nice – Saturday, 8:05 PM

  •  Monaco vs Auxerre – Sunday, 2:00 PM

  •  Paris Saint-Germain vs Lyon – Sunday, 7:45 PM

Follow the Action

Catch all the action live on SuperSport on DStv and GOtv. Matches are also available via DStv Stream and GOtv Stream. Manage or upgrade your subscription through the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps, visit www.dstv.com or www.gotvafrica.com, or dial *288# to stay connected.

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Africa Caught Off-guard as Idris Elba Stuns with FIFA World Cup Message

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Idris Elba FIFA World Cup Message

SuperSport viewers across Africa were left stunned when normal programming was suddenly interrupted by Hollywood star Idris Elba, who delivered a message saying “Everything else can wait.”

Millions of DStv and GOtv viewers across Africa experienced the surprise interruption during prime-time viewing on 15 April 2026 at 7pm, including in the middle of live sport broadcast. Screens abruptly went black before a countdown appeared, followed by a familiar silhouette.

It was Idris Elba.

Ten Of Us Now

The award-winning actor addressed Africa directly with a message celebrating a historic football moment. Ten African nations have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most ever.

“There are ten of us now,” Elba said in his unmistakable gravelly voice. “I honestly don’t care which one of us wins. I just want to see African football light up the world stage.”

“My mum is from Ghana, my dad is from Sierra Leone. But my heart is African,” said Elba, a global superstar who remains deeply connected to the continent. “That’s why I’m watching. Every. Single. Game.”

Africa’s Greatest World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup 2026™, hosted across Mexico, Canada and the USA, will see Africa represented by Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire and DR Congo.

It is a milestone tournament, and SuperSport on DStv and GOtv is positioning itself as the home of every kick, goal and celebration.

“History doesn’t always tell you when it’s going to happen,” Elba continued. “But I’m here to tell you where it may happen. SuperSport. Only on DStv and GOtv. Everything else you thought you were going to be doing… it can wait.”

Energetic Big Brother Mzansi star Smash Afrika and the ever-stylish host of Big Brother Naija, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, are also starring in the wider DStv and GOtv FIFA World Cup campaign.

Every Match, Every Screen

All 104 FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches will be available live on SuperSport across DStv, DStv Stream, GOtv and GOtv Stream.

Viewers can follow the tournament through satellite TV or stream on phones, laptops and smart TVs, depending on their preference and connectivity.

Coverage will also include local language options, including pidgin, making the tournament more accessible to audiences across the continent.

The World Cup kicks off on 11 June 2026 with the opening ceremony in Mexico City, live on SuperSport. From the opening match to the final, fans across Africa will be able to follow every moment.

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